Ursid meteor shower 2024: If you’re interested in skywatching and missed the Geminid meteor shower earlier this month, you can see the Ursid meteor shower, which is the year’s final celestial show. The meteor display is less well-known, but it will be stunning to see. It will be traveling through the sky at about ten meteors per hour. Here is all the information you require regarding the date, time, and other specifics of the Ursid meteor shower in 2024.
The Ursid meteor shower is expected to be active from December 17 to December 26, but the best viewing opportunities will be on December 21 and 22. The Ursa Minor constellation is the best place for observers to spot meteors. In the Northern Hemisphere, the constellation is visible at night and gives a distinct direction from which the meteors seem to radiate. As per the reports, the meteor shower will be peaking around 6 AM local time.
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To avoid pollution, it is suggested that the watchers relocate to areas with less light. For better stargazing, they can travel to observatories, national parks, and isolated rural areas. Cities like Denver, Tucson, and Flagstaff are well known for having dark sky regions close by, which will make for fantastic chances to see meteors.
At the peak of the meteor shower, the moon will be casting between 52% and 62% brightness. It indicates that there is a greater chance to observe meteors. It is suggested that viewers relocate to an isolated spot and give their eyes 15 to 20 minutes to adjust to the new brightness for the best possible views. The skywatchers will not need any special equipment to watch the show.
Speaking of the information, the Urisd meteor shower takes place because the planet Earth passes through the debris trail left behind by Comet 8P/Tuttle, which orbits the Sun every 13.6 years. Now that the Earth comes across these dust particles, they burn up upon entering our atmosphere creating beautiful streaks of light.
If you are a skywatching fan, you can also witness a Quadrantid meteor shower which will peak in between January 2-3 2025. The Ursid meteor showers are the last celestial show for this year.